Vancouver Military Relocation Real Estate
Your Vancouver Military Relocation Real Estate Agent is an Approved Brookfield Relocation Service specialist for Military Personnel relocating or posted out of the Vancouver area. We will ensure that you get all the pertinent information and listings that suit your families needs and requirements. As a trained “negotiator” and our expert local knowledge will be invaluable, whether Buying or Selling in the Vancouver and local area.
Vancouver Military Relocation Realtor
Kasey is a Determined, Supportive, Tactful professional Real Estate agent. She is passionate about ensuring her clients receive the highest level of service. These are just a few of the characteristics that describe what makes Kasey an indispensable, “go-to” person in today’s competitive Vancouver market place.
Kasey is a proficient professional who prides herself on delivering exceptional customer service. It’s the sincere relationships she cultivates and astute real estate acumen that sets her apart. She continuously works with enthusiasm and passion. This has allowed her to amass connections with large networks of residents, and has solidified her position within Vancouver’s real estate and business community.
Kasey has her Certified Negotiation Expert, C.N.E. designation, which is her commitment to always learning and upgrading in the Real Estate industry. This provides her clients with the highest level of negotiation and the best possible outcome for the purchase and sale of their largest investment.
We are proud to be an Approved Service Provider of the Integrated Relocation Program ( BGRS ) and has been working with the needs of military & RCMP families . Whether posted to or from Vancouver or our local RCMP detachment, we will guide you through this transition with confidence gained through years of experience.
We beliveve in a consultative approach to ensure everyone’s needs are met throughout the buying and selling process. Taking the extra time to really understand our clients’ needs is a priority with us and has made all the difference meeting your needs. Whether you are buying or selling, hiring us will make sure you have someone looking out for your best interests. Our comprehensive, high quality services can save you time and money, as well as making the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. We fully understand that for most people, the right house is worth waiting for.
Vancouver Military Relocation – House Hunting Trip
Limits and Entitlements
Planning Your HHT
When planning your HHT, keep in mind the following:
• A standard HHT is 7 days – a travel day to get to your destination, five days “on the ground” at your destination, and a travel day to go back home. Costs for the Member and spouse will be reimbursed from the Core funding envelope, but costs for taking your dependents with you will be paid from your Custom envelope. Keep an eye on your Custom funding, because once it is gone, there is no way to get more.
• An extended HHT can add up to 4 additional days on top of a standard HHT. These additional days will be funded from your Custom funding.
• You can add “leave” days or temporary duty to your HHT, but no expenses will be reimbursed while on leave or temporary duty.
• The Relocation Directive includes a section about “Multiple HHTs” but only the first HHT is reimbursable under Core/Custom. Though multiple HHTs were permitted in the past, under the current version of the Relocation Directive, additional HHTs are funded from the Personalized funding component, and due to changes in the way Members are paid their Posting Allowance, the vast majority of Members don’t have enough Personalized funding for a second HHT.
Planning Your House Hunting Trip
Once you have decided what dates you want for your HHT, you can start the planning. If the distance between your origin and destination exceeds 599 km, you will be expected to fly – and if you fly, you must book your trip through BGRS. They don’t actually book your trip – they review your request and then send it to Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), who will book the trip and send you your itinerary.
If the distance between your origin and destination is over 599 km and you intend to drive your own vehicle (Personal Motor Vehicle – PMV) for your HHT, you are still only permitted one travel day. No hotel costs will
be reimbursed outside of the geographical boundary of your destination. Also, your travel costs will be
capped at the cost of a plane ticket from origin to destination.
If the distance between your origin and destination is less than 599 km, you don’t have to take a traditional HHT where you stay overnight at destination. You can take multiple “day trips” to your destination instead. If you choose that option, you can be reimbursed the kilometric allowance to and from your destination every time you go. The trade off is that you can’t claim accommodation – it’s one or the other.
Members are responsible for finding their own HHT/DIT accommodations – generally speaking, this means booking their own hotel reservations. Most cities have a rate limit and if you go over the maximum rate, you will be reimbursed up to the limit only. If you prefer, you can choose to stay in an AirBnB, or with family or friends. AirBnB is considered “commercial lodging” and will be subject to the same city rate limit as hotels. You are entitled to claim $50/night for non-commercial lodging.
You should review your budget, and about 2 weeks before you go, request an advance from BGRS for the funds you will need for your HHT/DIT. You can request any amount up to the full amount of the
budget – or more if you can explain why you need extra – and BGRS will put the funds in your bank account in about 5 to 7 business days.
What expenses can you claim?
Members aren’t supposed to have to pay for the majority of HHT/DIT expenses “out of pocket” – which is why you’re allowed to get advances before you go. Since HRG books your flights, you don’t have to worry about those costs.
For members who use their own vehicle on their HHT, the kilometric allowance can be reimbursed for the trip to the destination, AND for local mileage as well.
If you fly to your HHT, you are entitled to a rental vehicle (subject to the same kind of limitations as hotel rooms – the size of the rental car is dictated by the size of your family)[2]. When you rent a vehicle, you are entitled to be reimbursed for fuel costs as well. Any parking costs incurred while on HHT are also reimbursable. As mentioned above, your lodging costs are reimbursable. For commercial lodging, you will have to provide an itemized receipt – one that shows the name and address of the business, the number of nights you were there, the type of accommodations (standard, suite, cottage etc.), for claims being submitted.
Selling your home to relocate:
Most Important – GET IN TOUCH AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE!
Selling your home in anticipation of a posting is a time sensitive event. As REALTORS® that have moved hundreds of families, relocation specialists want to hear from you the second you even THINK you may be posted. It is never too early to get the process rolling. Even in the event the posting doesn’t come through, you will have an idea of what would be required to sell you home.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
A REALTOR® with experience in relocating families usually has many many contacts. Often they have created relationships with similar REALTORS® in your destination city who will provide you with the same exceptional service. Also ask your colleagues – they may have had a great experience with someone that you can reach out to. This may save you a lot of headaches moving forward.
HOW TO BUY A HOME WHEN RELOCATING
Trust the Local Experts
With our extensive military relocation experience and our expertise with the local area, we are well equipped to assist you throughout your home-buying process. We maintain an extensive list of DND-approved contacts for lawyers and home inspectors. Our service is designed to make your home-buying, or selling, process as smooth as possible.
When helping you relocate to a new home, we make sure that your top priorities are taken into consideration. For families, nearby schools and other neighborhood features are particularly important. We are happy to provide a list of options that can be tailored to your desired price range. Kasey Titchener also helps with inspections, negotiations, and closings.
HOUSE HUNTING TRIP
Features of Your House Hunting Trip in Vancouver
- Our Experienced Local Agents will communicate with you and your family to determine your exact needs. We can communicate by phone, Skype or email.
- All new listings that match your criteria will be automatically sent to you. Follow up communication can further fine tune your needs and requirements.
- We will book appointments for all of the properties that interest you, coordinate a home showing schedule and provide a list of recommended accommodations for your House Hunting Trip.
- On arrival in Vancouvewr you will be given all the Listings that met your criteria and a List of Home Inspectors and Lawyers to assist in your purchase.
- We will attend your home inspection with you and schedule two walk-through appointments of your purchased property before the closing date.
- We can provide local information for schools, recreation, and any other information if required.
CITY OF VANCOUVER INFORMATION
CITY OF VANCOUVER
Vancouver (/vænˈkuːvər/ (
listen)) is a coastal seaport city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2016 census recorded 631,486 people in the city, up from 603,502 in 2011. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2,463,431 in 2016, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada, with over 5,400 people per square kilometers, which makes it the fifth-most densely populated city with over 250,000 residents in North America, behind New York City, Guadalajara, San Francisco,[7] and Mexico City according to the 2011 census. Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada according to that census; 52% of its residents have a first language other than English. 48.9% have neither English nor French as their first language. Roughly 30% of the city’s inhabitants are of Chinese heritage.
Vancouver is consistently named as one of the top five worldwide cities for livability and quality of life, and the Economist Intelligence Unit acknowledged it as the first city ranked among the top-ten of the world’s most well-living cities for five consecutive years.[Vancouver has hosted many international conferences and events, including the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, UN Habitat I, Expo 86, the World Police and Fire Games in 1989 and 2009; and the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics which were held in Vancouver and Whistler, a resort community 125 km (78 mi) north of the city. In 2014, following thirty years in California, the TED conference made Vancouver its indefinite home. Several matches of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup were played in Vancouver, including the final at BC Place.[17]
The original settlement, named Gastown, grew up on clearcuts on the west edge of the Hastings Mill logging sawmill’s property, where a makeshift tavern had been set up on a plank between two stumps and the proprietor, Gassy Jack, persuaded the curious millworkers to build him a tavern, on July 1, 1867. From that first enterprise, other stores and some hotels quickly appeared along the waterfront to the west. Gastown became formally laid out as a registered townsite dubbed Granville, B.I. (“B.I” standing for “Burrard Inlet”). As part of the land and political deal whereby the area of the townsite was made the railhead of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), it was renamed “Vancouver” and incorporated shortly thereafter as a city, in 1886. By 1887, the Canadian Pacific transcontinental railway was extended westward to the city to take advantage of its large natural seaport to the Pacific Ocean, which soon became a vital link in a trade route between the Orient / East Asia, Eastern Canada, and Europe.
As of 2016, Port Metro Vancouver is the fourth-largest port by tonnage in the Americas (recently displacing New York City), 29th in the world,[20] the busiest and largest in Canada, and the most diversified port in North America. While forestry remains its largest industry, Vancouver is well known as an urban center surrounded by nature, making tourism its second-largest industry.
Major film production studios in Vancouver and nearby Burnaby have turned Greater Vancouver and nearby areas into one of the largest film production centers in North America, earning it the nickname “Hollywood North”.
| Canada 2016 Census | Population | % of Total Population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible minority group Source:[135] |
Chinese | 167,180 | 26.5% |
| South Asian | 37,130 | 6% | |
| Filipino | 36,460 | 5.8% | |
| Southeast Asian | 17,120 | 2.7% | |
| Latin American | 10,935 | 1.7% | |
| Japanese | 10,315 | 1.6% | |
| Korean | 9,360 | 1.5% | |
| West Asian | 8,630 | 1.4% | |
| Black | 6,345 | 1% | |
| Arab | 2,965 | 0.5% | |
| Other visible minority | 1,500 | 0.2% | |
| Mixed visible minority | 11,070 | 1.8% | |
| Total visible minority population | 319,010 | 50.6% | |
| Aboriginal group Source:[136] |
First Nations | 8,930 | 1.4% |
| Métis | 4,405 | 0.7% | |
| Inuit | 105 | 0% | |
| Total Aboriginal population | 13,440 | 2.1% | |
| European Canadian Source:[137] |
297,700 | 47.2% | |
| Total population | 630,150 | 100% | |